Fox Collectors

Can anyone tell me if there is a serial number range for the Sterlingworth Deluxe models in 20 ga? I'm traveling this weekend and came across a 20ga Sterlingworth with 28 inch barrels, and dual ivory beads. It's an ejector gun, and the bluing and case coloring are both nice and original. The stock has been refinished with a skeleton buttplate added, and similarly the bottom cap on the stock has been checkered with a ring surrounding it. If it had a recoil pad as the deluxes did, it's long gone. This gun has a beaver tail forend, which is numbered to the gun and also states that it is a 20ga. Its being offered for a fair price, but I'm skeptical about the beaver tail, not having seen many on fox guns myself. I dont know if its original and refinished, or a recent addition. Serial number is 2636XX, and they are holding it for me until tomorrow. Any thoughts?

I have never seen a beavertail with the gauge stamped on it. I dont purport to be an expert but I do own/have owned alot of original Fox beavertail guns so I have had some exposure to them.

Obviously this gun has had a wood enhancement. A true Sterlingworth deluxe would have a mid bead and a Jostam Anti-Flinch recoil pad. The only deluxe feature is the mid bead which was available on standard Sterlingworths and were also popular for after market addition. Ejectors and Beaver Tail forends were available at additional cost but were not standard on the Deluxe. I think you are looking at a standard Sterlingworth with ejectors that someone has re-stocked or reworked the wood on. Actually Sterlingworths with ejectors are more attractive to most shooters/collectors than standard deluxe gun, if the beaver tail forend is righteous it also adds value over the standard deluxe.

So, the "sister gun" to this in 12ga is currently on Gun Broker. This person also owned this gun, and it seems had the same work done to both with regards to the Beavertail and the skeleton butt and grip cap. I think both were re-done by the same person at the same time. With that new info I'm going to guess that it isn't original.Picture 5 shows the Beavertail like the one on the 20ga.

(Link deleted, our policy does not allow links to guns for sale, Fox-admin)

Hope it's ok to post this link in this forum. I have no ties to this gun, and I'm not promoting it's purchase.

IMO the gun was restocked (front and back) using the factory escutcheon on the beavertail.

Smith, the guidelines for this forum are very clear. it makes no difference if you have no ties to the gun, etc. The rules clearly state that a link cannot be included in this open/public forum. Silvers

Sorry guys, thanks for deleting.

Mike

Well, here she is. I ended up purchasing the gun I was asking about in this post over Easter weekend. I cleaned it up tonight and took a few pictures. I think I'll invest in a letter for this one, just to see if it possibly was a Deluxe, and if the original configuration included a Beavertail. Either way, I'm excited to add a 20 Gauge to my growing Fox Collection. Chokes are IC/Full, and the chambers have not been lengthened. There is one issue with the checkering on the forend that I'd like to have addressed, but other than that I couldn't be happier.


DSCF9285 by SmithShady, on Flickr


DSCF9291 by SmithShady, on Flickr


DSCF9304 by SmithShady, on Flickr


DSCF9309 by SmithShady, on Flickr


DSCF9301 by SmithShady, on Flickr


DSCF9322 by SmithShady, on Flickr


DSCF9288 by SmithShady, on Flickr


DSCF9331 by SmithShady, on Flickr

Nice looking gun!